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Del Morrill, M.S. C.C.H

Transitions

A Center for Counseling & Hypnosis
Tacoma, Washington, USA
(253) 752-1506

Managing Arthritis: Make a Lasting Change

 

I'm in a lot of pain from my arthritis.

Having rheumatism means I can't do any of the things I want to do.

Sometimes the pain is so bad I just want to stay in bed all day, but even that doesn't help.

How can hypnosis help me?

 

What is arthritis?

The word literally means "inflammation of a joint." Aching or pain in joints and connective tissues is the common hallmark of arthritis. There are over one hundred different conditions that fall under this category. It can occur in all ages, from infancy on, and range from mild to severe.

What does arthritis do to the body?

Arthritis may begin with minor aches and pains, but it can also make a person seriously ill, cause tremendous pain, lead to deformities in the hands and feet, or even leave a person bedridden. With proper treatment, including good medical help and proper self-care, arthritis can be managed.

What are the major kinds of arthritis?

Rheumatism: unexplained aches and pains in joints and muscles.

Rheumatoid arthritis: inflammatory and often chronic, it attacks the joints primarily. It is generally the most serious because it can destroy joints and carries a risk of crippling. It flares up, settles down, flares up again.

Osteoarthritis: degenerative joint disease mostly caused by wear and tear as one grows older.

Others: ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus, for short), gout.

How can hypnosis help the pain I experience?

Hypnosis can help you to learn to manage your pain. It can keep you motivated to do the exercises needed for flexibility and movement. Hypnosis can support the nutrition that supplies what the body needs for better defense. It can help you function for longer periods of time without the discomfort you have experienced in the past. The unconscious mind handles the automatic body functions and hypnosis can encourage those systems to operate at their best.

I'm exhausted without enough sleep. Can hypnosis help me to sleep better?

Sleep deprivation is a common problem for people with chronic pain. Hypnosis can help train your body to relax. You'll learn to breathe more deeply. You can train your muscles, ligaments and tendons to "let go" for awhile so you can go to sleep more easily, and once asleep, sleep more soundly. Hypnosis can also help you to go back to sleep if you are awakened for any reason.

Sometimes my arthritis weighs me down and I'm so discouraged that I can't move. How can hypnosis help me?

A chronic illness takes its toll not only on the body, but also on the mind and spirit. Caring for the body is often such a major task that the mind is overwhelmed. Anxiety, discouragement and depression are common consequences of dealing with chronic pain. Hypnosis can work to counteract the negativism and anxiety that build up so easily. Working in a relaxed and receptive state, the positive suggestions given in hypnosis can become automatic in your thinking and doing.

Can I use hypnosis and regular medical care together?

Yes. Hypnotherapy does not take the place of qualified medical care. Hypnotherapy can help alleviate painful symptoms and help your body to work at its best.


"I had such severe pain in my hips and legs, my back hurt so badly I could hardly do my work. You gave me the first glimpse of hope I'd had in a long time." (Educator)

 

 
 

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